Saturday, August 6, 2011

Yes, it finally feels like summer!

Over a week of waking to blue skies every morning…days full of sunshine…ah, summer. Finally! I often read gardeners lamenting the loss of the freshness of spring. Many times they go on to talk about the “down-time” their garden experiences midsummer, after the spring flower frenzy and before the beauty of fall sets in. I’ve never felt this way. Of course I love spring, looking for new growth on the evergreens and watching bright fresh foliage emerging from the soil. But I don’t experience a midsummer lull, for me the garden just keeps getting better and better until late fall when it starts to get ready for its long winter slumber. Maybe it’s my climate? The sun and heat finally start to come on in mid July (this year in late July). So instead of being worn down by relentless heat come August I am still happy to feel it. Maybe it’s my plant choices? I’m not super flower focused (although plenty of them seem to have snuck into this post) so there isn’t a hole in the garden when the flowers fade. Plus with my big leaf obsession and dessert plant leanings things really start to look good when the temperature rises. Either way I love being in the garden in August. No vacation for me, home is where I want to be. These Eryngium agavifolium blooms are alive with bee activity. Too bad their color camouflages them so well that the sort of disappear. I almost didn't buy Kangaroo Paws this year, I'm glad I did...their bright orange really makes a darkish corner pop! And speaking of pop...this Abutilon is doing a nice job of that too! The Tetrapanax is responding well to the warmer days. And the Gunnera loved the cool wet spring. This color combination makes me smile every time I see it! More of that grouping... I had just finished up a nice breakfast on the patio when I decided to snap this shot... Yum, chocolate! (and my favorite color combo of green and brown) Who plants a Banana that close to the house? Baby Cardoon... Almost ripe! (they are Sungold so orange means "eat me now") This variegated Agave attenuata was almost given up for dead earlier in the spring. I planted it in the ground not wanting to waste the focal point of a container on it. Ta-da! It has responded nicely, of course I'll have to dig it before winter. The front garden taking on some much needed height. Something ate right through the curled center leaves of this agave. Blooming Genista aetnensis. I used to be annoyed by the floppy Canna blooms, they've grown on me. A Yucca flower close up... Or two... And speaking of Yuccas, remember the one I did this too? Well it's got a nice bit of new growth coming right out of the center. Right through a leaf! One of my favorite new flowers, Lysimachia Paridiformis F. Stenophylla. And the best part about all of this sunshine? It just keeps coming!

I wonder about that in other blogs as well. I'm sure part of it does have to do with our fairly mild summer weather...and probably an equal measure the plants. I have wildly different plants, but find myself in a similar situation as you...the garden just gets better and better until frost! I also saw Pam's post today and agree...your garden looks positively stunning...you must LOVE sitting outside and taking it all in!

Alison, the Cardoon that's starting to bloom is actually in a container all by itself with the veggies in the driveway. There is another that I've planted against the back of the house, it's got Japanese Forest Grass and Sweet Woodruff growing around it. The grass is a sedge ... Uncinia 'Firedance.'

Rohrerbot, thank you!

Deb, thanks Deb!

ks, ya I don't believe you! (that mine looks better...)

Les, well, I suppose I'm sorry. I mean there is the sadness due to the lack of a real summer...but all in all if I could chose I suppose I would go with what I've got. Sorry to tease.

Grace, you said it! A perfect August.

Thank you Linda, I appreciate that.

Jenn, I will...she knows of what she speaks (that's you).

Thanks Bom!

Lauren, hope you had a wonderful time at the beach!!!

Mark and Gaz, speaking of good looking gardens I just looked though your slide show...wow!

scott, I do...every chance I get. You are still invited over...suppose I should extend a formal invite? Like with a day and time?